Day number 329 of 2013...
Up at 4:25 a.m. just like any other day. Chilly. Temperature gauge read 31.4 degrees. Inside, the temperature read 58 degrees. Fired up the propane space heater to accelerate the heating process for the early morning hours.
My wife made me coffee. For the first time, I put in some Organic Valley ultra-pasteurized Half and Half. During these "routine" days, we don't drink coffee. I get the breakfast cereal ready. I wash any dishes from the night before being "extremely" careful not to run the hot water when you-know-who is in the shower. I don't hear my name being called, but I happen to hear some expletives emanating from the bathroom. When there no dishes in the sink, I turn on the "Amish" heater in the kitchen. If there are coals in the Lopi from last night, I place tinder and more wood to re-ignite.
Weighed in at 217.2. Up one pound from Friday. Must have been the spaghetti and meatballs, salad, homemade bread, and chocolate flat cake last night.
I opened up a card my wife left in the dining room table. It was a very touching card worthy of a kiss and a hug.
I did my normal routine of 500 pushups and 600 crunches. It is a great way to start off the day.
Ate my bowl of organic Nature's Path Pumpkin Granola Flax cereal for breakfast. I sliced half of a banana and sprinkled cinnamon. Poured in one cup of Pacific Foods Organic Almond Milk Original. Crunch, crunch, crunch...
We stopped by the Starbucks to purchase our usual grande black coffee for $1.85. We have our own Starbucks plastic cups to save $0.10 on each fill up. The cups cost one dollar, and they are worth their weight and volume in dimes.
Dropped my wife off at her work.
Filled up the Subie with premium gas which is now $3.519 at Costco. Up two cents. Guess California has switched to winter blend.
Went to work...
Why didn't I take time off from work? We had planned a vacation in July this year only to have it fall through when my wife had to go to Salinas. When she returned, we sat down with our calendars to use up our leave. Today just happened to be taken by my coworker on my team. Hey, she asked for it first and she got the day off. Fair is fair. Oh well, life goes on. I just wish the time went by more quickly. Work that is, not life.
My lunch consisted of last night's spaghetti and meatballs. "Mama mia...that's a spicy meatballs!" My wife chopped up just one chili pepper and added it to the mix. Whoa!
Stopped off at Wal-Mart to pick up a few things for the Thanksgiving Day meal. Also, stopped at Bed Bath and Beyond to order new curtains for the new french doors we installed. My special meal consisted of an Burrito Ultimo and a chicken Baja Bowl to go.
Last night, my wife presented me with a gift: Dremel Saw Max SM20-02. Time to get working on the floors!
Received phone calls, emails, texts, and cards from family and friends. Our neighbors, Klaus and Gail sang "Happy Birthday" over the phone.
It was a Monday like any other Monday...another 24 hours in the life...
However, each day has its own unique quality about it.
Days like these are more precious...I don't have much longer on this earth. Reading or hearing about people passing at a "young" age I say say to myself, "They were not that much older than me."
On a very sad note, tonight we lost another member of the family. Uncle Wally, husband of Aunt Sue, passed away quietly around 6:45 p.m. Pacific, after a long illness. He was surrounded by family who sang to him as he lay in bed. Uncle Wally always sang a little ditty "Wonder Valley." We wish we had a recording of his ditty and the lyrics, but we do not. We will miss listening to that ditty. It is now silent forever. He loved woodworking. The things he made with his own hands. Simply put, "WOW!" He was 92 years old.
"Take me away...
Fly me away...
Take me up so high..
Where angels fly."
Somebody was born on this day...A common bond with a child I will never meet nor will ever know. The cycle of life on THIS day begins anew.
Yes, this day was a little special...
When I was born on this day, it was on a Monday...
